Judging American Idol: The Final 2

how interesting, james, that you were expecting the gay remark about kris. i sort of was too.

i'm surprised by your final pick, but i think your analysis is right on. but let's be honest: if ANYONE judges these two by how they did with that FINAL SONG it'll be a travesty. my grandma could have written a better song in her sleep and my grandma's no longer with us...

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Bottom line: I think it will be close, but Kris probably won this thing. Call it the biggest upset since the Tortoise and the Hare, which is sort of how this played out.
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Adam made the big splash early on, justifying his pre-ordination with some surprising and powerful performances, but as we got closer to the finish there just wasn't much more he could do to shock and/or awe, or build substantially on his voter base.
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Meanwhile, Kris plugged quietly and patiently along at his own pace, keeping true to his self while persevering against the odds and dismissive judges. At the end, he not only had his über-motivated fan base in Arkansas (a force to be reckoned with, as I mentioned last week), but also gathered up all the folks voting against Adam's style as well as those who resented having front-runners jammed down their throats. People love an underdog, and Kris ought to have his picture next to that entry in the next Webster's.
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There was no real show-stopper tonight to tip the balance one way or the other, and in fact the format sort of kept Adam from pulling out one more rip-roaring performance to possibly give him a push over the finish line. If there's one weakness to Adam, it seems that he's not completely comfortable with songs which are forced on him on short notice, and that was basically 2/3rds of the show tonight.
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One last tea leaf: if Simon apologizes to you in the finale (as he did to David Cook last year, and to Kris tonight), it's a good bet he's seen the writing on the wall.
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No matter what happens, I'm still grateful these two got to the finale, and will be happy with either outcome. Their songs are the only ones I downloaded this season, in about equal numbers, so I've put my money where my mouth is.
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What I will hate is when people inevitably try to frame this into a battle of who was 'better', or likely even who was more 'acceptable' to America .... which totally misses the point, and how these two feel about each other and the competition. Plain and simple, if you don't like one or the other's music, then .... don't buy it! That personal choice doesn't mean the other guy or his fans were or are any less worthy.

[...] original here:  Judging American Idol: The Final 2 (Time Magazine) Share and [...]

livebyonefive: sorra'y mate but i have to disagree with yer prediction. i still think Adam will win this competition. America will vote based on the over-all performance of Kris and Adam throughout the season. I'm not going to argue that Kris has a stronger fan-base but i am sure that the fans of the other eliminated contestants will vote based from last night's performance and the season show.

Kris will probably win because his fans camped out longer on the phone lines, but based on talent and marketability, Adam should win. I doubt America will get it right.....again.

The finale song was clearly miswritten to accomodate the guys, who other than Adam could sing in that range? The judges this season appear out of control as well, personally I would like to see Kara gone. After each song, why do they have to expound so long and say the same thing again and again? Randy and Simon usually have something truthful to say, at least. Either win or loose, Adam and Chris will go on to success. Adam has a great shot in tv and movies obviously. Thank goodness it's all done for the year...

The thing with Chris is that he has more "teeny bopper" fans than Adam does. Adam has more talent than Chris but these people do not care about analyzing talent they simply see a conventional "pretty boy" and basically swoon.

Adam SHOULD win, but Kris might do it with all the 12-14 year-old girls voting. Anyway, AI winners can often be losers (Jordin Sparks, Taylor Hicks...) Daughtry didn't need to "win" to actually be the WINNER. I've already purchased three Adam Lambert songs on ITunes. I think others will buy his songs as well. No need to "win" AI

I don't really care who wins, but last night I think Kris did better, especially on that last song.

DialIdol has Kris with more calls than Adam, and since they've been right on all year long, I'd say (sadly) that Kris will win.

So it's a victory for pop elevator-music, teeny-boppers, and Southern homophobes. But no matter. Kris will be the next AI, and Adam will be the next American music superstar.

Come on now......who do you think will actually bring in the BIG Bucks for his talent? People don't want to pay good money to watch someone sit at a piano and play boring songs. Kris is certainly not a "Billy Joel or Elton John." He has no showmanship. It doesn't make any difference if Adam wins. He will certainly go on to be a Super Star regardless of the outcome. Look at Rubin. What a wasted vote that was. Americn definately got that one wrong. And Daughtry? Clearly #1 for that season. Some people just cant see talent if it hits them in the face.

@fergie1 - "Adam will be the next American music superstar." I think that's a stretch... has any Idol contestant been a superstar? (Disclosure: I don't follow a lot of music... I listen to my local alternative rock station sometimes, and that's pretty much it.) I know "superstar" is a subjective term, but I can't think of an Idol contestant who really fits that bill (nor do I think any of this year's contestants will be superstars either).

Whatever the outcome, both of these guys will be successful. I voted for Kris last night because for me, he has overcome such remarkable odds. He has grown the most out of the competition, whereas Adam is pretty much the same performer he was when he started to audition, which means that with an Idol win or not, he will still make the same music he set out to do. Kris, on the other hand, has grown considerably since "Man in the Mirror". He has gained more confidence, has made classic songs like "Ain't No Sunshine" and "She Works Hard for the Money" sound fresh and modern, like they could be heard right off the radio right now. I also am a sucker for his aw-shucks personality - the way he is always so shocked that American votes for him. To me, Kris stands out because his music feels more sincere and genuine. Adam has a disadvantage with his theater background because his performances always seem rehearsed; like he planned every flick of the wrist and every glory note precisely. Kris just seems like he goes with the music and he has the remarkable ability of conveying so much emotion when he sings. I like the fact that even in a giant venue like the Kodak theatre, that he is able to make his performance so intimate, which is why I felt like the judges should have given him props for that Marvin Gaye song. His performance was so casual and it seemed like he didn't even practice it - exactly like Simon said, it seemed like he just woke up in a dorm room and decided to strum a Marvin Gaye song. It came across so natural and effortless, and I loved his arrangement of it.

Yeah, Kris, buddy, when you sing "What's Going On" it's not meant to be a pickup line. Thanks.

I haven't liked Adam from the beginning!! His screaming in the mic really got on my last nerves I had to fast forward or leave the room it was so disgustingly gut wrenching! As I understand it a recording artist should be pleasant and easy on the ears, but that is just my opinion and that is what this is here for! Chris ROCKS!!

@Dave: I'm going to say Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are on the verge of superstardom (if they are not there already). David Cook has potential to be a successful artist with staying power. Throw in Daughtry as a succesful post-Idol artist with superstar potential and that is 4 out of 7 seasons that AI has discovered a bonafide star. That's a pretty good record given the fickleness of American pop music. I think Adam will be the 5th success story from AI whether he wins the vote tonight or not.

@Dave: You're right; no AI winner has been a superstar. But the past doesn't ALWAYS predict the future, and Adam is SOOOO much better than anyone who's ever competed on that show that I think he's (aaargh, to paraphrase Paula) got the stuff to be an icon.

I'm sorry, I just don't see the attraction with Adam. Is he a showman? Yes. Can he sing? Yes. Is he a one trick pony? Yes. When Adam takes the stage, you know what you are going to get. A high note screech regardless of the song. Me, I won't buy a CD of a guy doing every song with a high note screech. That would get real old, real fast. He is a flash in the pan and does not have staying power for a long term career. And excuse me about the teeny bopper vote.....that goes to Adam. Did anyone notice all the little girls going crazy at his parade? Adam's biggest fan base are gays and little girls. Danny Gokey's fan base went to Kris. Kris is an artist who has long term appeal. Kris will win.